Didier Drogba returns to action on Saturday as Chelsea look to extend their winning start to their Premier League campaign to seven matches with victory at Wigan.

Even without Drogba, it would be a major surprise if Carlo Ancelotti's side failed to overpower Roberto Martinez's struggling Wigan side and move closer to emulating Chelsea's last title-winning side, which began the 2005-06 season with nine straight league wins under Jose Mourinho.

Drogba was carried off during last weekend's win over Tottenham but Ancelotti was relieved to discover the Ivory Coast striker was only suffering from cramp rather than the more serious calf problem feared at the time.

Chelsea travel north with a three-point lead over champions Manchester United - who travel to Stoke - and a six-point cushion over a chasing pack made up of Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Tottenham.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection at Stoke will be the subject of much attention with Michael Owen, after his last-gasp winner against Manchester City at the weekend and a lively display in the League Cup win over Wolves in midweek, pushing for a starting slot alongside Wayne Rooney.

Ben Foster's status as first-choice back-up for the currently-injured Edwin van der Sar could also be under threat following a midweek display from Tomasz Kuszczak that contrasted with Foster's nervy performance in the derby.

Regardless of their line-up, Rory Delap believes Stoke are capable of upsetting United at the Britannia Stadium, although he expects the champions to overhaul Chelsea over the course of the season.

"I cannot see past them as they have the experience of doing it," Delap said. "They have lost a couple of good players but have bought very well.

"Hopefully we can put a bit of a dent in them on Saturday, providing we play our own game and concentrate for the full match. If you switch off for a second they will punish you."

Arsenal's absence from the top six, albeit at an early stage of the season, means Arsene Wenger's side have little room for error when they make the short journey across London to Fulham on Saturday evening.

Like his old rival Ferguson, Wenger is mulling changes in the goalkeeping department with Polish teenager Wojciech Szczesny in line to displace Vito Mannone with Manuel Almunia laid low by a virus.

Szczesny, who has come back from breaking both arms in a gym accident last year, impressed Wenger in the League Cup win over West Brom in midweek.

"He has a presence, he has a charisma, a calmness, and you see straight away there is quality there," Wenger said.

A Liverpool win over second-from-bottom Hull at Anfield would increase the pressure on beleaguered Tigers boss Phil Brown, who is being tipped as the first managerial casualty of the season.

The Liverpool match may not be decisive but Brown has admitted upcoming games against Wigan, Portsmouth, Fulham and Burnley could determine his future.

"It is going to be a massive October for us," he said. "Nobody likes being in the bottom three but we just have to fight our way out of it."

Portsmouth are in even worse trouble than Hull after six straight defeats but midfielder Michael Brown insists morale has not been completely crushed at the south coast club.

"There are 32 games to go and we are four points away (from safety), so we've just got to relax and try and play our way out of it," Brown said ahead of Everton's visit to Fratton Park on Saturday.

"Look at Hull last season - they were flying high and escaped relegation by only a point. Things can change very quickly and we have to make sure we do that."

Tottenham, who have lost to Manchester United and Chelsea in their last two outings, will expect to return to winning form at home to Burnley, who have yet to claim a point away from Turf Moor.

Manchester City are not in action until Monday, when they entertain West Ham.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):

Saturday:

Birmingham v Bolton, Blackburn v Aston Villa, Fulham v Arsenal (1630 GMT) Liverpool v Hull, Portsmouth v Everton (1145 GMT), Stoke v Manchester Utd, Tottenham v Burnley, Wigan v Chelsea

Sunday:

Sunderland v Wolves (1500 GMT):

Monday:

Manchester City v West Ham (1900 GMT)

AFP

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